Hailey and Claire are spending their last summer together when they discover something at the bottom of the murky pool at the Capri Beach Club. There in the depths is a mysterious and beautiful creature with a sharp tongue and a broken heart: a mermaid named Aquamarine who has left her six sisters to search for love on land. Now, as this mythological yet very real being stHailey and Claire are spending their last summer together when they discover something at the bottom of the murky pool at the Capri Beach Club. There in the depths is a mysterious and beautiful creature with a sharp tongue and a broken heart: a mermaid named Aquamarine who has left her six sisters to search for love on land. Now, as this mythological yet very real being starts to fade in the burning August sun, a rescue is begun.

On the edge of growing up, during a summer that is the hottest on record, Hailey and Claire are discovering that life can take an unpredictable course, friendship is forever, and magic can be found in the most unexpected places....more

My book club is going to be reading Practical Magic this month, and it came to me as I was waiting for my library hold to be filled that I am not particularly familiar with Alice Hoffman’s work. My experience with her novels consists a) of me maybe reading Green Angel at one time, although I don’t remember the plot at all, but isn’t that the one where her whole family dies and she covers herself in tattoos? and b) of me watching every single woman over the age of 35 request a copy of The DovekeeMy book club is going to be reading Practical Magic this month, and it came to me as I was waiting for my library hold to be filled that I am not particularly familiar with Alice Hoffman’s work. My experience with her novels consists a) of me maybe reading Green Angel at one time, although I don’t remember the plot at all, but isn’t that the one where her whole family dies and she covers herself in tattoos? and b) of me watching every single woman over the age of 35 request a copy of The Dovekeepers last year.

I know. This is terrible! Alice Hoffman is a super popular author! Where has she been all my life!?

So I decided to try and remedy it, and picked up a copy of Aquamarine.

…

Guys.

Someone reassure me that all Alice Hoffman books are not as incredibly, incredibly boring as Aquamarine.

Because this did nothing for me.

I’m having a hard time even imagining how they managed to turn it into a Disney Channel movie; maybe they added a lot more action, to make it more palatable for small children?

Our mermaid, Aquamarine, was a total bitch. Contrary to the back flap description, she was not mysterious. She was shallow and nasty. Also, she did not leave her sisters to search for love on land—are you kidding me? She “wandered away from her sisters during a storm” and like an idiot ended up in a pool, starving to death and unwilling to leave because she was SO PASSIONATELY IN LOVE WITH RAYMOND, whom after waking up in the pool she had glimpsed momentarily, from afar. This is clearly the foundation that great relationships are built upon.

Raymond himself was a fairly flat character, and I truly do not understand what he sees in his mermaid girlfriend, nor do I understand why it was necessary for Aquamarine to almost die on land if Raymond can just follow her out in the water and make out with her there, as per the end of the novel.

And Hailey and Claire—I mean, I understand that the thread tying this book together is supposed to be “Two friends deal with their impending separation,” but the story didn’t actually drive that aspect of the plot forward. They find a mermaid, she’s nasty to them, they release her back into the water. How does this help them deal with not being next-door-neighbors anymore? Is it just shock? Are they both “Holy shit, we just manhandled a freaking mermaid! ANYTHING is possible now!” and so it helps them deal with separation anxiety simply because being apart is not as mind-blowing as mythical animals?

Also, again, boring.

In summary, if I ever find a super-obnoxious mermaid in my murky swimming pool, I will have her netted and hurled back into the ocean faster than you can say, “But she is SO IN LOVE with a HUMAN.”...more

I love Alice Hoffman's books, so I was very excited to read the first of her Water Tales. This is a short & sweet read about friendship and mermaids. It's for pretty young readers, but if you want a sliver of Hoffman's writing, or you want a very quick, fun read, and you love mermaids, I recommend this. Hoffman has her own style of writing. As a writer entranced by her storytelling abilities, I've been trying to understand how she weaves her narrative magic for years:D (It's true!) This smalI love Alice Hoffman's books, so I was very excited to read the first of her Water Tales. This is a short & sweet read about friendship and mermaids. It's for pretty young readers, but if you want a sliver of Hoffman's writing, or you want a very quick, fun read, and you love mermaids, I recommend this. Hoffman has her own style of writing. As a writer entranced by her storytelling abilities, I've been trying to understand how she weaves her narrative magic for years:D (It's true!) This smaller work is probably an easier study to deconstruct (if that's possible!) My husband is an artist, and his teacher taught him to study the masters. For me, Alice Hoffman is a master! The version of the book I got includes the first chapter of Indigo, Water Tale #2. Now, I'm anxious to read that.

This book also reminded me of Hoffman's Green Angel. I'm guessing Water Tales is probably for middle grade readers, and the Green Heart novels, of which Green Angel is the first, is more Young Adult. The two novels in the Green Heart series are also short, but they're more complex, and there's more poetry in the writing. (My opinion.) I THINK they were written after 9/11.

Also, last year we had our first Annual Alice Hoffman Blog Hop to celebrate her birthday. (March 16th, she's a Pisces!) It was an intimate and emotionally intense experience as ten readers and writers gushed about what Alice Hoffman's work means to us. Check it out, and join us on March 16th!

I got this with Indigo by Alice Hoffman at the elementary school book fair for $2. Loving other Alice Hoffman books, I grabbed this without a second thought. It is meant for a younger audience, which I didn't realize at first. It is well written for younger girls to whom friendship and love mean everything. As an adult, I didn't find it a wonderful, thought provoking story. It was a very quick read, and not entirely boring either though.

I had just finished reading Bridge To Teribithia by Katherine Paterson, and, on a whim/book-induced high, I picked up my copy of Aquamarine that I had bought in 2006 as a young girl. I had never read it before today. Well, that was a mistake. It was, quite honestly, a waste of time.

Things that truly bothered me:- this book.- the characters.- the plot.

Alright, the book as a whole was just plain bad. The plot and the characters made it painful to read. It was just awful. As far as I can tell, therI had just finished reading Bridge To Teribithia by Katherine Paterson, and, on a whim/book-induced high, I picked up my copy of Aquamarine that I had bought in 2006 as a young girl. I had never read it before today. Well, that was a mistake. It was, quite honestly, a waste of time.

Things that truly bothered me:- this book.- the characters.- the plot.

Alright, the book as a whole was just plain bad. The plot and the characters made it painful to read. It was just awful. As far as I can tell, there really wasn't much of a plot to begin with, but rather an unoriginal idea. How many books are there about best friends moving away? Hmm.. let's just throw an irritating, conceited Mermaid into that and, BAM, we have a completely new & fresh idea. Gaaah. What is wrong with people? The characters were so unbelievably flat and stupid that I cannot believe this book was published. Claire & Hailey were just stupid, Raymond was a tool [he didn't do anything to make the plot progress, he was just sort of there], and Aquamarine was a bitch. The book may be centered around a mermaid, but, the book isn't really about the mermaid/fantasy whatsoever. Just about two girls who are flatter than a piece of paper. There was no depth at all and I was bored out of my mind while reading it.

There is such a lack of depth with this book that I cannot write a proper review because, well, there's NOTHING to write about.

I'm not really sure what I expected this book to develop into, but I was still disappointed in the result.

The "main" two girls are flat. There's the brave one and the scared, smart one. How innovative.

Next there's the dreamboat snack shack guy. He's attractive, likes to read, and going to college soon. Okay.

Annnnd then there's the mermaid. She's rude, selfish, and greedy. I was at least expecting her to develop a little throughout the book, perhaps learn a little humility, or that sometimes youI'm not really sure what I expected this book to develop into, but I was still disappointed in the result.

The "main" two girls are flat. There's the brave one and the scared, smart one. How innovative.

Next there's the dreamboat snack shack guy. He's attractive, likes to read, and going to college soon. Okay.

Annnnd then there's the mermaid. She's rude, selfish, and greedy. I was at least expecting her to develop a little throughout the book, perhaps learn a little humility, or that sometimes you have to make sacrifices for everyone's well-being, or at least to appreciate the things you have and what other people are willing to do for you. I guess she leaves something behind in the end, but I feel like those could have been reminders for the characters to think about HER, as she is rather self-obsessed. In the end, she's just as spoiled and she still gets what she wants, despite causing others dismay and slight difficulties in the process.

None of the characters truly develop. They change locations, but any of the changes (ex: Claire getting over some of her fears) seem tacked on at the end, not like the result of a true process of growth. I was disappointed....more

Aqua, a mermaid who has the ability to turn into a human, has struggled trying to fit in like the rest of us. The author Alice Hoffman expresses the trials and tribulations that one has to go through to find true love. Along the timeline of this book, Aquamarine finds herself having to choose between love and friendship. She creates enemies, and lifelong friends. This adventurous, tear jerking story was published in 2001. Its genre falls along the li

Aquamarine Review by Ali Inzunza

Alice Hoffman

Aqua, a mermaid who has the ability to turn into a human, has struggled trying to fit in like the rest of us. The author Alice Hoffman expresses the trials and tribulations that one has to go through to find true love. Along the timeline of this book, Aquamarine finds herself having to choose between love and friendship. She creates enemies, and lifelong friends. This adventurous, tear jerking story was published in 2001. Its genre falls along the lines of romance and fiction. The main character Aqua is washed up into a Florida homeowners house after a treacherous storm. She must find love in three days or else her father brings her back to the sea. Will she find love in time? Or will her father take her back into the sea to live the rest of her miserable life with the man she does not want to marry. Her two best friends that she meets on land are Hailey and Claire. They take Aqua under their wing and show her what it is like to be a human. One causal afternoon, Aqua takes a walk on the beach and sees a handsome boy named Raymond. All of the girls want him, and think that he is absolutely beautiful and amazing. Raymond asks Aqua on a date and they had a prolonged connection. When she goes back home she receives a call from her father, asking if she has fallen in love. How does the conversation end? Is she really in love? Throughout the end of the story she faces several conflicts which are awaiting you at the end of the book. This adventurous story really caught my eye because of the wide variety of jovial characters. For those who are interested in romance and friendship, Aquamarine is a perfect “tail” for you! I would recommend this terrific book to kids of all age groups. ...more

Why I decided to read this book? I decided to read Aquamarine because I have watched the movie and thoroughly enjoyed it so I decided to read the book. When I found the book I couldn't wait to read it and it wasn't a very long story so I read it quite quickly.

What category on the bingo board this book completes?Aquamarine completes the fantasy book on the bingo board. I enjoy reading fantasy stories and this story was about Mermaids so it was very interesting to read and find out more things abWhy I decided to read this book? I decided to read Aquamarine because I have watched the movie and thoroughly enjoyed it so I decided to read the book. When I found the book I couldn't wait to read it and it wasn't a very long story so I read it quite quickly.

What category on the bingo board this book completes?Aquamarine completes the fantasy book on the bingo board. I enjoy reading fantasy stories and this story was about Mermaids so it was very interesting to read and find out more things about a mermaid.

My favourite quote from this book is:The quote in this book that I liked is a very common quote. "Anything is possible" I think this quote is so true and anything can happen. But the reason I liked it so much was the mermaid said it to Raymond who she was leaving behind. A mermaid is a make-believe thing but she is saying that anything is possible.

Something I learnt from this book? I learnt that I should use my time wisely. During the book the two main characters are cherishing the time they have together but its still goes by to fast. So I learnt that I should use up all the time I have doing things I love and not regretting the things that I do.

A character that interested you?Aquamarine was a character that interested me because she was head-strong and stubborn but only because she was different and didn't like people staring at her. But when you got to know her she was kind and loving. She interested me because she didn't give up on what she wanted. She was opeful and even though she was going away she still had faith that they would meet again....more

Why I Decided to Read This Book:I chose to read this book because I loved the movie and I thought is would be a good category to read and learn more about etc. It was also recommended to me.

Which category on the bingo board does this book complete:A science fiction or fantasy novel. (Mermaids)

My comment on the category's:I really enjoyed this book, I loved it having mythological creatures - mermaids and I liked having that kind of aspect to it. I fond that the book was a bit childishAquamarine.

Why I Decided to Read This Book:I chose to read this book because I loved the movie and I thought is would be a good category to read and learn more about etc. It was also recommended to me.

Which category on the bingo board does this book complete:A science fiction or fantasy novel. (Mermaids)

My comment on the category's:I really enjoyed this book, I loved it having mythological creatures - mermaids and I liked having that kind of aspect to it. I fond that the book was a bit childish, i fell like i was slightly to old for it but i did enjoy it and i did have fun reading it! i love mermaids!

My favorite quote from this book, and why:I couldn't find any quotes that i particularly loved, i found because i am a bit old for this book, none really stood out or relate with me etc. My favorite quote, is one of the most popular quotes, but it is :

Something new I learned from this book:Is, to have fun in life, don't take everything to seriously and kind of just go with the flow.

Ok, on its own, this book is okay. It's very short, but the story has interesting subject matter; it just seems like there's not much to it.

Then again, I watched the movie first, and that may have made a LOT of difference. Despite its intended audience being, oh, let's say the 10-14 set, I really enjoyed it. So imagine my surprise when I get the book out of the library, and the only things that are the same are:

1) There are two girls, Hailey and Claire, one of whom is being forced to move away.2Ok, on its own, this book is okay. It's very short, but the story has interesting subject matter; it just seems like there's not much to it.

Then again, I watched the movie first, and that may have made a LOT of difference. Despite its intended audience being, oh, let's say the 10-14 set, I really enjoyed it. So imagine my surprise when I get the book out of the library, and the only things that are the same are:

1) There are two girls, Hailey and Claire, one of whom is being forced to move away.2) There is a mermaid named Aquamarine who ends up in the pool of a beach club.3) There is a guy named Raymond.

That's about it. I have never seen a movie SO LOOSELY based on its book, with the exception of maybe Last of the Mohicans. Honestly, I'd say go rent the movie if you want a story with a bit more depth (no mermaid puns intended)....more

I feel mean-spirited, not meaning anything but I have things to address:4000 BC: The world's first sea adventure! Noah carries family and other animals across a waterworld to land on Mt. Ararat. God makes covenant to never drown the world again. He will break promise 1000000 times.2000 BC: Fish pukes Jonah onto Nineveh Beach. Jonah does not taste good. Oh, well, there's always other fish.1700s Europe: Hans Christian Andersen writes The Little Mermaid, gibing half-fish women with naked boobs theI feel mean-spirited, not meaning anything but I have things to address:4000 BC: The world's first sea adventure! Noah carries family and other animals across a waterworld to land on Mt. Ararat. God makes covenant to never drown the world again. He will break promise 1000000 times.2000 BC: Fish pukes Jonah onto Nineveh Beach. Jonah does not taste good. Oh, well, there's always other fish.1700s Europe: Hans Christian Andersen writes The Little Mermaid, gibing half-fish women with naked boobs the respect they deserve. (If ever.)1984: A brilliant director named Opie Cunningham directs the ultimate sea of love story: Splash! Mermaids continue to be honored as Daryl Hannah the mermaid loves dumpy Tom Hanks without reservation or guilt. Hell has frozen over! The Atlantic Ocean is now a big flat Icee Treat.2001: Alice Hoffman writes and publishes Aquamarine, which totally disses mermaid lore in every aspect. Hell thaws.2006: Tsunami swamps the Eastern seaboard. On Christmas Day. God has broken Covenant again, and this AFTER the Hurricane Katrina fiasco. On Christmas! The Birthday of His Son!Connection: Something about Alice Hoffman's tale of a tail has pissed off God royally. Here's y theory as to why:This book honors (so it claims) mermaid legends by portraying a teen mermaid, usually depicted as incredibly loving to all, as a total diva with an obsessive problem who can't seem to let go of the human male snack bar worker. Like groupie of Bon Jovi obsessive. And two 12-year-olds have to get her to meet him and get her back in the watery sea after a mere 24 hours or...she will DIE!!! But then the merm did happen to be in their swimming pool, which is YARDS from the ocean. Is there something wrong with this picture so far?Then the two girls have to feed her tuna fish sandwiches. WTH? Do they not know that you do not feed a fish with other fish products? If memory serves, mermaids tend to get insulted, especially considering that tuna cans are blends of tuna, dolphin and porpoise. All in one delicious can in every Star-Kist you buy. Sorry, Charlie.The book itself is only 105 pages long and Ms. Hoffman pulls out all the stops to make you feel in the end that SOOOO much has happened, as though it were 1000 pages thick and Michener lengthy/complicated.She even uses a kid as a plot device/weapon to get our sympathy by half-drowning in the pool and rescued at the last minute by a sexy 17-year-young fish-human hybrid. All because he has obsessed over her too.Ms. Hoffman, you double-breasted asshole! You don't do that to kids, announcing them for a few pages and letting them go without us getting to know them better! As for messing with merms: What the hell were you thinking?Just for that I'm gonna ENJOY that Chicken of the Sea this week and savor every bite of Flipper! Splash the film still has you beat, since it's from genius director Ron "Opie Cunningham" Howard. Yes, THE Ron Howard. THAT Ron Howard.

This novel had something to offer young children, somewhere between 8 and 13. It did not dazzle me but I'll stock that up to I'm not the right age and have read other and better Alice Hoffman novels.

Aquamarine mostly takes place in a swimming pool after a horrible storm that leaves a own in mild chaos, a stranded mermaid is in the swimming pool. Young girls find her in the pool, and soon after find out that she's fallen in love with a man who works at the pool. The girls become determined to brThis novel had something to offer young children, somewhere between 8 and 13. It did not dazzle me but I'll stock that up to I'm not the right age and have read other and better Alice Hoffman novels.

Aquamarine mostly takes place in a swimming pool after a horrible storm that leaves a own in mild chaos, a stranded mermaid is in the swimming pool. Young girls find her in the pool, and soon after find out that she's fallen in love with a man who works at the pool. The girls become determined to bring Aquamarine back to the ocean before she dies, but Aquamarine refuses until she meets the man she's fallen in love with.

A lot of the things in the story were impractical but so are most fairy tales, in this we see Aquamarine refusing to leave even if it kills her. In more accepted story's like Hansel and Gretel two lone children go into a random house made out of candy in the middle of the woods. So stories have a long history of being impractical. This one is no exception.

I see a lot of people complaining about flat characters, and yes they were flat if we're talking in terms of more mature novels but this was written for those in middle school, so for me I didn't mind....more

Everything is coming to an end for Hailey and Claire. Not only is Claire going to move away to Florida, but the Capri Beach Club--to which they have sentimental attachment--is getting torn down. But one day, they discover a mermaid named Aquamarine in the club pool, and they have to hatch a scheme to get her back to the ocean since she can't live for long in chlorinated water. But when the mermaid herself doesn't want to go because she's in love with the snack bar boy, the girls have to figure oEverything is coming to an end for Hailey and Claire. Not only is Claire going to move away to Florida, but the Capri Beach Club--to which they have sentimental attachment--is getting torn down. But one day, they discover a mermaid named Aquamarine in the club pool, and they have to hatch a scheme to get her back to the ocean since she can't live for long in chlorinated water. But when the mermaid herself doesn't want to go because she's in love with the snack bar boy, the girls have to figure out how to make their love live so Aquamarine can live as well.

I generally dislike stories in which characters (especially girls) moon about sulking over boys they've formed attachments to without any real good reason--especially at the expense of their mental or physical health. Aquamarine is dying in this pool but she doesn't want to leave because there's a cute boy nearby, and that really bothered me--not to mention it seemed like a contrived way to make Hailey and Claire work together to preserve something precious. I didn't like the mermaid's personality, and while I would normally really enjoy a story about the bitterness associated with moving (I myself moved as a preteen--to Florida!--and had to leave all my friends!), their sorrow was romanticized with adjectives, not really felt. I think this was mostly because the narration was oversimplified in an adult attempt to make it acceptable for children, and that is a mistake some authors make when writing for kids if they're not used to it. I felt that in this book....more

Hailey and Claire have been friends forever. They are heartbroken that they will no longer be together because Claire is moving away when summer ends. The girls spend every day going to the beach club that they've always gone to, trying to make the days last. This isn't easy, as the summer seems to be slipping away faster the more they try to hold onto it. The beach club is falling apart and being torn down, which makes their impending separation seem that much harder. As the end of summer drawsHailey and Claire have been friends forever. They are heartbroken that they will no longer be together because Claire is moving away when summer ends. The girls spend every day going to the beach club that they've always gone to, trying to make the days last. This isn't easy, as the summer seems to be slipping away faster the more they try to hold onto it. The beach club is falling apart and being torn down, which makes their impending separation seem that much harder. As the end of summer draws closer, a crazy storm hits Cape Cod. When the girls go to the club in the morning, the abandoned pool looks murky and disgusting. But that doesn't stop Hailey from diving right in, and what she sees changes everything. What are the chances of finding a stubborn mermaid under the water? Is she real or a figment of the girls’ imagination? Will they be able to grant the mermaid her one request before she agrees to go back to the ocean? What exactly will happen at the end of the summer? Check out this beachy read to find out!

I read Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman in just one sitting, as it is only about one hundred pages. The story of friendship is one that I think most people will be able to relate to, especially anyone who has ever had to move away from their best friend. I could relate to how scary it can be to have distance in a friendship, and how the girls worry that somebody else might take their place. I like that Claire and Hailey got to have one more fanciful event before they were separated from each other. I have never read a book with a mermaid in it, so this short read was a good way to get my feet wet. I think this book will appeal more to girls than boys based on the friendship between Hailey and Claire and the mermaid aspect, but boys may enjoy it too. Kids between the ages of eight and twelve will enjoy this fast read and long for some time near the ocean!...more

This book was about two best friends, Hailey and Claire who are coming to an end for their last summer together because Claire is moving half way around the world. One night, a storm rolled in and the pool outside the beach house was washed up by the giant waves from the ocean just a few yards away. The morning after the storm, the two girls went out to the pool to see the damage and they find a new friend secretly in the pool that they only know about. At was a mermaid named Aquamarine (Aqua) wThis book was about two best friends, Hailey and Claire who are coming to an end for their last summer together because Claire is moving half way around the world. One night, a storm rolled in and the pool outside the beach house was washed up by the giant waves from the ocean just a few yards away. The morning after the storm, the two girls went out to the pool to see the damage and they find a new friend secretly in the pool that they only know about. At was a mermaid named Aquamarine (Aqua) who ran away from home to prove to her father that love really does exist so she, at a young age, does not have to marry the merman her father chose for her who she does not have any feelings for. Aqua discovered that when she came out of the water and dried off, her long beautiful tail turned into legs. Now, the three great friends, Aqua, Claire, and Hailey, are making it a mission to find love for Aqua and to get a wish which you would receive if you help a mermaid. There was nothing Claire and Hailey wished more than Claire not having to move at the end of summer.

This is my first time reading the book after i have seen the movie dozens of times. I have adored the movie since i was young and although it was different, i enjoyed it just as much. In the movie, Hailey is the one who moves away from her life with her best friend. In the movie, the girls discover Aqua when Claire, who is deathly afraid of water because her parents drowned, slips into the pool. In the book, Hailey voluntarily dives into the pool after she thinks she sees something interesting that may have washed up after the storm. There are several little details that are different and I enjoyed finding them. I also thought this was an easy read because, again, I was familiar with the topic and it had a simple, interesting story line.

I would recommend this to young girls mostly. Anyone who wanted to read a book about friendship, love, and adventures would enjoy this book. I would also recommend this to someone who saw the movie because I truly think the only reason I understood the book 100% was because I knew what was happening because the scene was not set to the fullest it could have been. Since there are differences between the movie and book, it would not be boring however if you were to watch the movie prior to the book.I personally loved this book and how it ended and if you decide to read it, I hope you feel the same way too....more

I first saw this book on Scholastic's list of fantasy books for grades 3-5. When I saw Aquamarine it caught my attention because I have seen the movie. I always enjoy reading book and watching the movies to find the differences between the two.

Aquamarine is about two friends, Hailey and Claire, who spend their summers together at the Capri Beach Club. One day while swimming, they find something at the bottom of the pool. They discover that this "something" is really a mermaid name Aquamarine! TI first saw this book on Scholastic's list of fantasy books for grades 3-5. When I saw Aquamarine it caught my attention because I have seen the movie. I always enjoy reading book and watching the movies to find the differences between the two.

Aquamarine is about two friends, Hailey and Claire, who spend their summers together at the Capri Beach Club. One day while swimming, they find something at the bottom of the pool. They discover that this "something" is really a mermaid name Aquamarine! Throughout the book a unique friendship begins to build. Hailey and Claire must figure out how they can help Aquamarine find what she is really looking for.

I think this could be a great read aloud of independent read depending on the grade level. This may not be as interesting for the fellas in your classroom, but I know this would be popular among the girls. Having a movie to go with it could also encourage students to first read the book, then watch the movie and look for differences. Students could then write about the differences between the movie and the book, listing which one they liked better. Another option would be to have students write about what they would do if they found a mermaid. ...more

Alice Hoffman has written a tale of enchantment. A lesson on how to say goodbye and how to hold on to those you love best.

Hailey and Claire are spending their last summer together when they discover something at the bottom of the murky pool at the Capri Beach Club. There in the depths of the pool is a mysterious and beautiful creature with a broken heart. Its a mermaid named Aquamarine who has left her six sisters to search for love on land. As this mythological being starts to fade in the burnAlice Hoffman has written a tale of enchantment. A lesson on how to say goodbye and how to hold on to those you love best.

Hailey and Claire are spending their last summer together when they discover something at the bottom of the murky pool at the Capri Beach Club. There in the depths of the pool is a mysterious and beautiful creature with a broken heart. Its a mermaid named Aquamarine who has left her six sisters to search for love on land. As this mythological being starts to fade in the burning August sun, a rescue begins.

During their last summer together Hailey and Clair learn that life can take an unpredictable course, that friendship is forever, and that magic can be found in the most unexpected places.

For the classroom I think this book would be a wonderful read aloud book or it could be used as a book club book. After reading the book you could have a whole class or small group discussion. Some of the questions that could be asked include: -Are Hailey and Claire such good friends simply because they live next door to each other? What experiences have they shared that contribute to their friendship being as strong as it is? In what ways are they different?-What makes the girls feel that Claire's grandfather can be trusted with their secret? How do they know he will believe their story and agree to help? Why can they not share their secret with other adults in the story?-Claire is fearful of the water at the beginning of the book, yet by the end of the story she has learned to swim. What events lead to this change? Where does she find the courage to overcome her fears?-Discuss Aquamarine's personality. Compare her to mermaids in traditional folklore. Is she what you would expect a mermaid to be? Why does she act the way she does? What influences have shaped her actions and words? Why do the girls want to help her?-What images does the author use to create the setting for her readers? Discuss the atmosphere of the Beach Club, the intense heat of the summer, and how these play a part in the story.-Hailey's mom gives Claire's family a basket when they leave with a photograph of "the house that was left behind." The author calls it one of the "necessities for anyone who leaves home." Yet Hailey decides not to take a photograph for Claire of the Beach Club being demolished, and Claire decides not to take a photograph for Hailey of Aquamarine swimming in Florida. Why are these photographs not "necessities"?-"Time has a habit of moving too fast," says the author on the evening that Raymond has dinner with Aquamarine. What are some of the ways the author uses time in this story? How does the passage of time affect each of the characters? How does it affect places in the story? What part does it play in the plot?...more

Best friends Hailey and Claire are spending their last summer together before Claire moves to Florida with her grandparents. The Capri Beach Club has been the scene of so many memories for the girls, but this summer is especially bittersweet for them. Then, the morning after an awful storm, Hailey and Claire discover something unusual in the murky water at the bottom of the pool. There in the depths is a mysterious creature with a sharp tongue and a broken heart: a mermaid named Aquamarine has bBest friends Hailey and Claire are spending their last summer together before Claire moves to Florida with her grandparents. The Capri Beach Club has been the scene of so many memories for the girls, but this summer is especially bittersweet for them. Then, the morning after an awful storm, Hailey and Claire discover something unusual in the murky water at the bottom of the pool. There in the depths is a mysterious creature with a sharp tongue and a broken heart: a mermaid named Aquamarine has been separated from her sisters, swept away by the force of the storm.

Trapped in the deep end of the pool, Aquamarine is not only suffering from a severe case of homesickness, she is also experiencing the pangs of first love - for a totally inappropriate creature - a human teenage boy. Now, as this mythological yet very real being starts to fade in the burning August sun, the mermaid's fate rests with Hailey and Claire.

Just on the edge of growing up, during a summer that is the hottest on record, Claire and Hailey are discovering that life can take an unpredictable course, best friends are forever, and magic can often be found in the unlikeliest places. In Aquamarine, best-selling author Alice Hoffman weaves a luminous tale of nostalgia and enchantment, perfect for readers both young and old.

I've had this book on my TBR pile for almost three years. Despite waiting for such a long time to read the book, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was certainly intriguing and while definitely written for children, I found the characters well-developed and extremely likable. I give this book an A!...more

I don't get why so many people didn't like this book! The first time I read this, I was in first grade, and I fell in love with it immediately. Now (as in today) I am 16, I read it whenever I get really really bored, and guess what? I still enjoy reading this book! Maybe because it's nostalgic and stuff, but I just love everything about this book. The setting, the imagery, the beachy-ness, I just love it. I guess if you like going to the beach as much as I do, you'll enjoy the book.

Aquamarine was A VERY quick read! I would usually say that the movies are never as good as the books but with this story the movie was definetely better. But that doesnt mean I dont think that this book was awesome. It was very cool it just went by soooo FAST!! I love MERMAIDS so therefore of course i love AQUAMARINE!!!

Hailey and Claire are spending their last summer together when they discover something at the bottom of the pool at the Capri Beach Club. Its a mysterious and beautiful creature with a broken heart..a mermaid named Aquamarine! Who escaped from home to find true love on land. A rescue has begun and on the edge of growing up Hailey and Claire have discovered that life can take you on a crazy adventure, friendship is forever and "magic" can be found in the most unexpected places.

I would recommend tHailey and Claire are spending their last summer together when they discover something at the bottom of the pool at the Capri Beach Club. Its a mysterious and beautiful creature with a broken heart..a mermaid named Aquamarine! Who escaped from home to find true love on land. A rescue has begun and on the edge of growing up Hailey and Claire have discovered that life can take you on a crazy adventure, friendship is forever and "magic" can be found in the most unexpected places.

I would recommend this book to one of my good friends because it basically talks about friendship and weather or not to keep it or forever loose it.

I choose this book because I had watched the movie and i thought it was good so by reading the book I thought it would have more details or interesting facts but I was wrong....more

I think if I had to recommend this book at all, it would be to 2nd graders. Since I am older than a 2nd grader, I found this book dull and slow. I'd like to know how they made a movie out of this. Which, is the reason I picked this book up in the first place: the movie. While I have never seen this movie(and won't. It's now on my "I WON'T WATCH THIS IF MY LIFE DEPENDED ON IT" list with "Sharknado".), I had heard of it, and the cover looked interesting(NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!!!!), so I pI think if I had to recommend this book at all, it would be to 2nd graders. Since I am older than a 2nd grader, I found this book dull and slow. I'd like to know how they made a movie out of this. Which, is the reason I picked this book up in the first place: the movie. While I have never seen this movie(and won't. It's now on my "I WON'T WATCH THIS IF MY LIFE DEPENDED ON IT" list with "Sharknado".), I had heard of it, and the cover looked interesting(NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!!!!), so I picked it up during English class, and finished it in English class. My personal outlook on the book is; the characters are underdeveloped, the parents play barely any roles except move the friends apart, the mermaid is very arrogant, and there's not enough characters.(I guess that's only technically the character outlook.) However, the setting I love.(only thing I love about this book.) Lots of books make Maine sound so beautiful, so I really want to visit someday. Other than that, the book isn't my cup of tea/coffee/hot cocoa. ...more

This book about a 2 girls that want to have the summer of there lives because one of them are moving and they cant have the fun they want because the keep having really bad tornados and to much rain comes in. the finally find something huge that happens during the summer they meet somebody new and she is no normal human. text-to-self well one of the characters is very affraid of water( pools, lakes, pounds, & the ocean) becaues her parents died because they were in water i can really relateThis book about a 2 girls that want to have the summer of there lives because one of them are moving and they cant have the fun they want because the keep having really bad tornados and to much rain comes in. the finally find something huge that happens during the summer they meet somebody new and she is no normal human. text-to-self well one of the characters is very affraid of water( pools, lakes, pounds, & the ocean) becaues her parents died because they were in water i can really relate to her because i used to be like that i was afraid to drown in the pool so i never went in and i was afarid of the beach becasue of the fished in it. but the at the end of the book she got in to the water and thats just like me. i teached my self how to read.i would give this book 3 stars because it was very boring and i didnt like it that much other people might like it but it didnt really catch my attention. i would recommend this book to people who like alice hoffmen and who like books about mermaides....more

Rarely do I believe a movie is better than the book it's based on. However, I found this to be the case with the book Aquamarine, and the movie isn't that great either. I'm a fan of Alice Hoffman, but Aquamarine and Indigo (in the edition I read, both were included) are not very good.

The characters in Aquamarine have no depth, much like the story. Two girls who are life long friends discover a mermaid, said mermaid falls in love just at the sight of a bookish guy who works at the empty snack baRarely do I believe a movie is better than the book it's based on. However, I found this to be the case with the book Aquamarine, and the movie isn't that great either. I'm a fan of Alice Hoffman, but Aquamarine and Indigo (in the edition I read, both were included) are not very good.

The characters in Aquamarine have no depth, much like the story. Two girls who are life long friends discover a mermaid, said mermaid falls in love just at the sight of a bookish guy who works at the empty snack bar at the resort. That's the plot. The movie makes it interesting, but in the book, it's quite boring. While the two girls are made to be sympathetic, it's only because one is moving. Other than that, I could have cared less what happened to them. Even the mermaid lacks any sort of characterization. We aren't shown enough of Aquamarine to care about her or even to want her to wind up with the guy at the snack bar. She takes up less than a third of the book, it's not about her, and she does nothing to change personalities of the two girls. So why name the book after her? A much better title would have been Haley and Claire's Last Summer, and it would have been a much more interesting story. ...more

I remember having this book for a long time but I never remembered what it was about. I decided to read it thoroughly and discovered a genuinely cute story. Although it is far from amazing, Aquamarine holds true to its moral lessons of friendship and hope. Instead of being a messy teen infested drama, like its movie counterpart, it holds itself up by being a simple story with a lot of depth. Some say that the book is boring because of its lack of details. I personally believe that its lack of saI remember having this book for a long time but I never remembered what it was about. I decided to read it thoroughly and discovered a genuinely cute story. Although it is far from amazing, Aquamarine holds true to its moral lessons of friendship and hope. Instead of being a messy teen infested drama, like its movie counterpart, it holds itself up by being a simple story with a lot of depth. Some say that the book is boring because of its lack of details. I personally believe that its lack of said details is what makes it much more magical and mysterious, like the mermaid herself. The ending is bitter sweet but teaches the heroines to accept life rather than run away from it. Magic doesn’t solve everything and that is perfectly clear in the conclusion of this novella. It doesn’t throw in a wish deal like the movie does. The heroines are self driven and that is what makes them far more powerful as characters than ones that are simply aiding the mermaid in hopes of gaining a free wish.

I can never figure out why mermaids are so stupid when it comes to relationships though. Aquamarine is obviously no exception as her feelings for Raymond hold little depth. The movie does expand this idea a tad better by introducing the idea that she must prove love is real to get out of an arranged marriage. However, I will say that Aquamarine’s rash emotions blends well with that of the heroines.

I will agree, however, that many parts of the story are pretty coincidental. Some things just turned out a little too well but I suppose that’s up for the reader to decide.

Aquamarine is a coming of age, magical tale about two 12 year old best friends about to be parted at the summer’s end. Claire and Hailey have lived next door one another all their lives. Claire’s family is about to move away to Florida at the end of the summer. The two girls hang out at Capri Beach Club, a neglected and shabby place about to bulldozed at the end of the summer.

Despite the girls’ fear of change, the clock is ticking and summer is rapidly coming to an end. Then one morning, after

Aquamarine is a coming of age, magical tale about two 12 year old best friends about to be parted at the summer’s end. Claire and Hailey have lived next door one another all their lives. Claire’s family is about to move away to Florida at the end of the summer. The two girls hang out at Capri Beach Club, a neglected and shabby place about to bulldozed at the end of the summer.

Despite the girls’ fear of change, the clock is ticking and summer is rapidly coming to an end. Then one morning, after a particularly harsh storm, they find a mermaid named Aquamarine in the bottom of the Capri Beach Club’s pool . She is grouchy from being trapped in the pool, but refuses to leave after laying eyes on Raymond, the handsome boy working the food stand. The girls concoct a scheme to give Aquamarine one magical evening with Raymond (while still keeping her true identity a secret) before they safely return her to the sea.

This is a quick, sweet story and delightful read. The reader will fall in love with the Hailey and Claire’s friendship bond. Anyone who has lost a best friend as a child will identify with their heartache and smile at their attempts to assist Aquamarine. It’s a short novel, geared toward younger teens but still can be enjoyed by adults. I enjoyed the underlying theme of adolescence being a magical time where friendships are true and bonds unbreakable. Aquamarine’s haughtiness and rebellion against her father added a comic twist to the story as well. ...more

One summer afternoon, a storm comes in blowing everything around that wasn't nailed to the ground. 12-year-olds Hailey and Claire are spending their last summer together. The storm blows in a spoiled, 16-year-old mermaid with glistening scales and piercing blue eyes. Her name is Aquamarine. When Hailey and Claire discover her, they realize that mermaids aren't as nice as they seem in fairy tales. They try to find out what Aquamarine wants, so that she could go back to the ocean, so that she woulOne summer afternoon, a storm comes in blowing everything around that wasn't nailed to the ground. 12-year-olds Hailey and Claire are spending their last summer together. The storm blows in a spoiled, 16-year-old mermaid with glistening scales and piercing blue eyes. Her name is Aquamarine. When Hailey and Claire discover her, they realize that mermaids aren't as nice as they seem in fairy tales. They try to find out what Aquamarine wants, so that she could go back to the ocean, so that she wouldn't dehydrate her skin. The problem is the thing that she wants is a date with Raymond. But how is she going to get out and have that date? Hailey and Claire couldn't possibly tell him that she's a mermaid, because no one believes in mermaids, right? So they come up with a truly amazing plan.

I loved this book because it was magical. The entire story was enchanting. I loved how Hailey and Claire worked together to come up with a plan so that Aquamarine could have her date with Raymond. I just plain loved this story because it had everything that captures me into a story. ...more

Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman is an enchanting tale written for children between the ages of nine to twelve. After reading the story I think that it is best suited for the lower end of that range as it maybe boring for the older twelve year old. Claire and Hailey are best friends who have always lived next to each other. They are especially close this summer because it is their last together, Claire is moving to Florida. Their favorite spot, the Capri Beach Club, is also closing at the end of theAquamarine by Alice Hoffman is an enchanting tale written for children between the ages of nine to twelve. After reading the story I think that it is best suited for the lower end of that range as it maybe boring for the older twelve year old. Claire and Hailey are best friends who have always lived next to each other. They are especially close this summer because it is their last together, Claire is moving to Florida. Their favorite spot, the Capri Beach Club, is also closing at the end of the summer.One afternoon following a terrible summer storm the girls discover Aquamarine, a mermaid, living in the bottom of the Capri's pool. She has fallen in love with the snack bar attendant and refuses to leave until she can meet him. The girls go to great lengths to arrange this and in the end realize that Aquamarine would rather have known Danny for one night and be separated then never to have known him at all. This parallels with the pain they are experiencing in their fears of separation. The girls realize that true friendship like true love is never lost. Alice Hoffman is known for weaving fantasy with reality and I thought this was a well written, charming story that most young girls can identify with and will enjoy reading. ...more

The book's plot is mind-numbingly simple, with as many plot gaps as Swiss cheese: Two BFFs, Claire and Hailey, are spending their last summer together before they go separate ways. One day, they run into a beautiful mermaid washed up from a storm in the pool. While they try to coax her into returning to the sea, she refuses, having fallen for the "incredibly hot" lifeguard with the suave name Raymond. They finally convince her by promising one date with him before returning to the ocean for herThe book's plot is mind-numbingly simple, with as many plot gaps as Swiss cheese: Two BFFs, Claire and Hailey, are spending their last summer together before they go separate ways. One day, they run into a beautiful mermaid washed up from a storm in the pool. While they try to coax her into returning to the sea, she refuses, having fallen for the "incredibly hot" lifeguard with the suave name Raymond. They finally convince her by promising one date with him before returning to the ocean for her safety. So many questions.1. The whole oh-no-we're-never-going-to-see-each-other-again plot was dropped once Aquamarine was discovered, so why even have it in the first place? 2. Aquamarine must have known that she would die if she rotted in a pool waiting for Mr. Dreamy-Lifeguard to come smooch her, and it wasn't a tragic forbidden love story. So why did she go all gaga?3. If Claire and Hailey wanted to get rid of Aqua, then why couldn't they? I personally would've appreciated it if they'd drop-kicked her scaly butt off the Atlantic. 4. Why was Raymond such a dumbass? If he was the lifeguard, he would've spotted Aquamarine at the pool. Therefore her little acrobatic tricks as well, proving that she wasn't (view spoiler)[a handicapped girl. (hide spoiler)]5. If Aquamarine was this important princess, than why weren't her parents out looking for her? I mean, I get that she ran away, but still, they'd probably look for her if they were any kind of parent.

So as you can see, there were tons of issues. Much of the magic and mermaid part of the novel was left unexplained, as if we were just supposed to assume that mermaids indeed existed and washed up in swimming pools. Claire and Hailey seemed like twins, and not in a good way. Their personalities seemed identical, without any substance. They were just there.In fact, the only character with a personality was Aquamarine, who seemed incredibly schizofrenic, excuse my spelling. On one hand, she was an obstinate, stubborn, rebellious girl, the next she was drooling and dreamy-eyed. While she was supposed to be made out as determined and love-crazy, she just seemed incredibly shallow, like The Little Mermaid meets that Devil Wears Prada character. Don't even get me started--it seems like our friend Alice watched a couple too many Disney movies. I'll end my character shpiel with Eric Raymond. There wasn't even a point to him; he wasn't even described physically past being "hot." Hot what? Since the only descriptive language in the whole book was about the weather, is it possible that he wasn't even attractive, that he was just sweating and burning in the smoldering sun? Ah, more questions.Forgive me-she did describe one more thing: the smell of the pool water as "fishy." Brilliant. Oh, and constantly how beautiful Aquamarine is, but she didn't actually describe Aquamarine beyond that, so I'm not counting it. ["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>...more

I did not know what book to get so I asked my friend and she recommended me this book and told me that it is a very good book and that I will like it. The plot of this book is that there were two best friends Claire, and Hailey. They lived right next to each other in front of the beach. One of the friends Claire was moving to Florida in a month so they had to make this month the best time that they will have together. A few days later there was a storm and it was very windy outside and cold so tI did not know what book to get so I asked my friend and she recommended me this book and told me that it is a very good book and that I will like it. The plot of this book is that there were two best friends Claire, and Hailey. They lived right next to each other in front of the beach. One of the friends Claire was moving to Florida in a month so they had to make this month the best time that they will have together. A few days later there was a storm and it was very windy outside and cold so they had to stay home, but next morning when they go around the pool they see that there is something in the water on the bottom of all the seaweed, there was a mermaid so they decided to spy on her by taking food and putting it next to the pool so she can reach for it and they can see her. When they met her time past so they had to take her back to the beach before she turns into dust and they did but they had a hard time because she fell in love with Raymond one of their friends but they solved that problem and everything went back to normal. The quote that was my favorite is "If there's something we're not telling you, we're not telling you for your own good" because this happens in real life, and sometimes we know somethings that can hurt our relationship with the people around us so it's better to keep some stuff to our selves. I will recommend this book to everyone it's a very interesting book and anyone can read it....more

Alice Hoffman was born in New York City on March 16, 1952 and grew up on Long Island. After graduating from high school in 1969, she attended Adelphi University, from which she received a BA, and then received a Mirrellees Fellowship to the Stanford University Creative Writing Center, which she attended in 1973 and 74, receiving an MA in creative writing. She currently lives in Boston and New YorkAlice Hoffman was born in New York City on March 16, 1952 and grew up on Long Island. After graduating from high school in 1969, she attended Adelphi University, from which she received a BA, and then received a Mirrellees Fellowship to the Stanford University Creative Writing Center, which she attended in 1973 and 74, receiving an MA in creative writing. She currently lives in Boston and New York.

Hoffman’s first novel, PROPERTY OF, was written at the age of twenty-one, while she was studying at Stanford, and published shortly thereafter by Farrar Straus and Giroux. She credits her mentor, professor and writer Albert J. Guerard, and his wife, the writer Maclin Bocock Guerard, for helping her to publish her first short story in the magazine Fiction. Editor Ted Solotaroff then contacted her to ask if she had a novel, at which point she quickly began to write what was to become PROPERTY OF, a section of which was published in Mr. Solotaroff’s magazine, American Review.

Since that remarkable beginning, Alice Hoffman has become one of our most distinguished novelists. She has published a total of sixteen novels, two books of short fiction, and eight books for children and young adults. Her novel, HERE ON EARTH, an Oprah Book Club choice, was a modern reworking of some of the themes of Emily Bronte’s masterpiece Wuthering Heights. PRACTICAL MAGIC was made into a Warner film starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. Her novel, AT RISK, which concerns a family dealing with AIDS, can be found on the reading lists of many universities, colleges and secondary schools. Hoffman’s advance from LOCAL GIRLS, a collection of inter-related fictions about love and loss on Long Island, was donated to help create the Hoffman Breast Center at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA. BLACKBIRD HOUSE is a book of stories centering around an old farm on Cape Cod. Hoffman's recent books include AQUARMARINE and INDIGO, novels for pre-teens, and The New York Times bestsellers THE RIVER KING, BLUE DIARY, THE PROBABLE FUTURE, and THE ICE QUEEN. GREEN ANGEL, a post-apocalyptic fairy tale about loss and love, was published by Scholastic and THE FORETELLING, a book about an Amazon girl in the Bronze Age, was published by Little Brown. This fall Little Brown published the teen novel INCANTATION, a story about hidden Jews during the Spanish Inquisition, which Publishers Weekly has chosen as one of the best books of the year. In January 2007, SKYLIGHT CONFESSIONS, a novel about one family’s secret history, was released on the 30th anniversary of the publication of Hoffman’s first novel.

Hoffman’s work has been published in more than twenty translations and more than one hundred foreign editions. Her novels have received mention as notable books of the year by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, Library Journal, and People Magazine. She has also worked as a screenwriter and is the author of the original screenplay “Independence Day,” a film starring Kathleen Quinlan and Diane Weist. Her short fiction and non-fiction have appeared in The New York Times, The Boston Globe Magazine, Kenyon Review, Redbook, Architectural Digest, Gourmet, Self, and other magazines. Her teen novel AQUAMARINE was recently made into a film starring Emma Roberts....more